Message delivery method for interactive televideo system

ABSTRACT

The present invention includes a method of selectively delivering programming to a viewer station (e.g., a home) on an interactive television or televideo (IT) system. The method includes delivering a message to a selected viewer station having a selected video display set. The message may be delivered while the selected viewer station receives virtually any programming over the interactive televideo system, including selected programming that is chosen by a viewer at the selected viewer station and is carried on a selected programming channel. With reference to a preferred embodiment, the IT system transmits a message signal to the selected viewer station on a communication channel different from the channels carrying the programming, including the selected programming channel. The interactive station controller receives the message signal and generates from it a viewer message.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/521,799,filed on Aug. 31, 1995, now abandonded.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to interactive television or televideosystems and, in particular, to a method of delivering messages to viewerstations associated with such systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional cable and satellite television transmission is evolvinginto interactive television or televideo (IT) systems. IT systemscombine the video broadcast capability characteristic of conventionalbroadcast television with computer-executed applications or programmingresponsive to input from viewers. By some estimates, IT systems underdevelopment could include the equivalent of 500 channels of videobroadcasting and unlimited numbers of interactive applications.

Conventional broadcast television networks primarily transmit scheduledvideo programming that emphasizes entertainment, education, orcommercial advertising. The conventional scheduled programming issometimes interrupted for unscheduled public announcements relating to,for example, broadcast system technical difficulties, critical events,or weather or disaster alerts.

Public announcements in conventional broadcast television systems arebroadcast on the channels carrying the scheduled programming. Criticalpublic announcements typically are broadcast as substitutes for thescheduled programming. The broadcasting of the scheduled programming isstopped and in its place the public announcement is broadcast. Thesesubstitution-type public announcements commonly are voiced or spoken andinclude a video segment or a still-image graphic display. This type ofpublic announcement is typically used to announce broadcast systemtechnical difficulties and weather or disaster alerts.

Non-critical public announcements may be generated as text that is addedto a video broadcast signal (e.g., along a bottom display screenmargin). The broadcasting of the scheduled programming continuesuninterrupted, but the broadcast signal carrying the scheduledprogramming is modified to include the public announcement text. Thesemodification-type public announcements seldom include voice or spokencomponents and are commonly used to announce non-critical programmingdelays or news (e.g., sports results).

Typically, public announcements are made by the broadcasters thatprovide or generate the programming carried on a particular channel.Conventional cable television (CATV) network operators seldom generatesuch announcements. Conventional CATV network operators aresubstantially passive rebroadcasters of programming provided orgenerated by others. As a consequence, viewers of a conventional CATVnetwork typically can receive public announcements only if the viewersare tuned to programming provided by a broadcaster that makes publicannouncements (e.g., conventional local television stations or nationaltelevision networks).

With the relatively large amounts of programming planned for IT systems,it is expected that the proportion of viewers tuned to such conventionalbroadcasters will decline. Much of the alternative programming is likelyto be generated by providers who are remote from the viewer or have nopublic announcement capabilities. With conventional channel-basedbroadcasting of public announcements, viewers tuned to such programmingcould be denied the benefit of receiving public announcements. Forcritical events and local weather or disaster alerts, the absence ofpublic announcement services can pose a grave risk to viewers.

In addition to the difficulty of delivering public announcements to theprogram or channel a viewer is actually watching, another disadvantageis that public announcements on conventional television are delivered toall viewers tuned to a particular channel. As a consequence,conventional television is incapable of providing a public announcementonly to specific viewers for which the announcement is applicable orappropriate.

With particular reference to IT systems, conventional substitutions ormodifications of video signals for public announcements is incompatiblewith programming in the form of computer-executed applications. Manysuch applications would not include a video broadcast that could bemodified with a public announcement. Moreover, public announcementscould unpredictably disrupt the operation of such applications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes a method of selectively deliveringprogramming to a viewer station (e.g., a home) on an interactivetelevision or televideo (IT) system. The IT system includes a centralcontrol node that delivers programming to multiple viewer stations. Eachviewer station has a video display set (e.g., a television receiver) andan associated interactive station controller that is responsive to inputfrom the viewer for controlling programming on the video display set.

The method of this invention includes delivering a message to a selectedviewer station. The message preferably is formed at the central controlnode and directed to the selected viewer station in accordance withcomputer-executed software of this invention. Similarly, the selectedviewer station receives and responds to the message in accordance withthe software.

The message may be delivered while the selected viewer station receivesany programming over the interactive televideo system, includingselected programming that is chosen by a viewer at the selected viewerstation and is carried on a selected programming channel. The selectedprogramming may be conventional video programming or a computer-executedapplication.

With reference to a preferred embodiment, the IT system transmits amessage signal to the selected viewer station on a communication channeldifferent from the channels carrying the programming, including theselected programming channel. The interactive station controllerreceives the message signal and generates from it a viewer message.

The interactive station controller renders the viewer message on thevideo display set over the selected programming. The viewer messageselectively includes a viewer acknowledgement block requiring the viewerto acknowledge the viewer message to have it removed from the videodisplay set. Alternatively, the viewer message remains for a preselectedduration and then is removed automatically.

This invention allows an IT system operator to provide publicannouncements to any or all subscribers regardless of the programmingthey are receiving. The public announcement can provide information toviewers receiving programming generated by any source, includingcomputer-executed applications operated by the IT system. The IT systemoperator can provide such announcements without having to modify each ofup to about 500 channels of programming.

The foregoing and other features and advantages of preferred embodimentsof the present invention will be more readily apparent from thefollowing detailed description, which proceeds with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an interactive television system used forthe preferred embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an interactive station controller used forthe preferred embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan diagram of a viewer control unit for providing viewerinput to the interactive station controller of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams of a video display screen with respectivefirst and second viewer message blocks of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a method of delivering a message to aselected viewer station according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 and 2 are directed to an interactive television or televideo(IT) system 10 as an operating environment for preferred embodiments ofthe present invention. For purposes of simplicity and clarity, IT system10 is described with reference to widely available systems andstandards, including conventional analog television receivers andcable-based video networks.

It will be appreciated, however, that the particular components of ITsystem 10 may be implemented with a variety of conventions, standards,or technologies without departing from the underlying concepts of thepresent invention. The term televideo is used to emphasize theapplicability of this invention beyond standard television-basedsystems. As two examples, the conventional analog television receiversand cable-based video network referred to in FIGS. 1 and 2 could beimplemented as digital video receivers and a satellite downlinktransmission system, respectively.

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of an interactive televideo (IT)system 10 having a central control node 12 that transmits programmingover a network 14 to multiple viewer stations (e.g., homes) 16. Theprogramming may include standard analog video broadcasts (e.g., NTSC,PAL or SECAM), digital or digitally encoded video broadcasts (e.g.,MPEG1 or MPEG2), or digital information related to computer-executedapplications.

Each viewer station 16 includes at least one video display set 18 (e.g.,a television receiver) and an interactive station controller 20, whichis sometimes referred to as a set-top box. Although it is shown distinctfrom video display set 18, interactive station controller 20 couldalternatively be integral with video display set 18.

Interactive station controllers 20 receive programming from centralcontrol node 12 and control the associated video display sets 18 inaccordance with the programming. Controlling video display set 18 of aconventional analog type may include, for example, delivering an analogvideo signal directly to video display set 18 for display, converting adigital video signal to a suitable analog form for display, or executinga computer application that includes displays on display set 18.

Interactive station controllers 20 transmit digital information to andreceive digital information from central control node 12. The digitalinformation typically relates to applications executed by processorsresiding at control node 12 and station controller 20, as describedbelow in greater detail.

Preferably, network 14 carries bidirectional communication betweenstation controllers 20 and central control node 12. Alternatively,communication between station controllers 20 and central control node 12can be carried by different communication systems. For example,programming from central control node 12 to station controllers 20 couldbe carried on a satellite downlink while station controllers 20 sendinformation to central control node 12 on a terrestrial modem link. Anexemplary embodiment of central control node 12 is described in greaterdetail below.

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of an exemplary one of interactivestation controllers 20 for controlling video display set 18 andcommunicating with central control node 12. Station controller 20includes an input 60 that delivers communication or information fromcentral control node 12 to a communication interpretation system 62having, for example, an analog television demodulator 62a, a digitalvideo decoder 62b, and a digital network communication interface 62c.

Demodulator 62a functions as a conventional television tuner forselecting one of multiple conventional analog video signals receivedfrom central control node 12 at input 60. Video decoder 62b functions asa digital equivalent of demodulator 62a for selecting one of multipledigital video signals received at input 60 from central control node 12.Network communication interface 62c communicates with central controlnode 12 with digital information carried over baseband frequencies. Thebaseband frequencies may be below the conventional analog video signalfrequencies, above the digital video signal frequencies, or between thefrequencies of analog or digital signals.

A central processing unit (CPU) 66 in conjunction with a memory system68 controls operation of station controller 20. CPU 66 is responsive toan infrared receiver and decoder system 70 that receives user input froma hand-held viewer control unit 71 (FIG. 3) and delivers the input toCPU 66. For example, CPU 66 controls selection of analog- ordigital-based programming or applications delivered from central controlnode 12, accesses, activates, or executes selected applications, ordelivers information to or requests information from central controlnode 12.

A graphics subsystem 72 is controlled by CPU 66 to form graphics images,including interactive system user interface images, on video display set18. A video processor subsystem 74, also controlled by CPU 66, providescontrol in the rendering of video imagery, including decompressingdigital video signals and sizing and positioning a video display window.

A mixer 76 receives a video display signal from video processorsubsystem 74 and graphics image signals from graphics subsystem 70 anddelivers a mixed image signal to video display set 18. Mixer 76 providescompositing, masking and blending of display signals from two or moreimage sources such as, for example, a digital video signal andlocally-generated graphics or an analog video signal and a bitmap imagereceived from central control node 12.

Referring to FIG. 3, viewer control unit 71 includes an infraredtransmitter window 89 through which control unit 71 emits infraredsignals to infrared input 70 of station controller 20. A directionalcontrol keypad 90 allows a viewer to transmit signals to stationcontroller 20 according to displays it renders on the video display set18. The viewer may initiate or activate selections by depressing anaction key 91 and may enter numeric values with numeric key pad 92.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show a display screen 98 of one of video display sets 18with, respectively, a message dialog block 100 and a flash message block102 of the present invention rendered thereon. Message blocks 100 and102 are formed in response to message signals received by the associatedinteractive station controller 20 from central control node 12. Messageblocks 100 and 102 preferably are displayed over selected programmingcurrently rendered on display screen 98. For purposes of illustration,FIGS. 4A and 4B each show a simplified graphic 104 representing selectedprogramming over which message blocks 100 and 102 are rendered. Theselected programming may include broadcast video material orcomputer-executed applications.

Dialog message block 100 includes a title segment 106a, a text bodysegment 106b, and a close prompt segment 106c. As suggested by the closeprompt segment 106c, dialog message block 100 remains on display screen98 and over the selected programming until a viewer acknowledges themessage by pressing action key 91 on viewer control unit 71, or theexpiration of a default message period.

Flash message block 102 preferably is configured as a horizontal bandthat extends across display screen 98 at a selectable vertical position.A single line of text extends across and typically scrolls horizontallythrough flash message block 102. Flash message block 102 remains ondisplay screen for a duration determined at central control node 12.

As described below in greater detail, viewer messages can be deliveredto selected viewer stations 16 and can be rendered over virtually any ITsystem programming. Selective delivery of viewer messages provides thecapability to transmit universal messages to all viewer stations 16, aswell as individualized messages to different viewer stations 16.Individualized messages can relate, for example, to IT system accountingmatters or replies to service inquiries.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram showing a method of delivering a message to aselected viewer station 16 of IT system 10. The message is formed atcentral control node 12 and directed to selected viewer station 16 bythis method in accordance with computer-executed software. Similarly,selected viewer station 16 receives and responds to the message inaccordance with the software. The method of FIG. 5 is described withreference to delivering a message to a single viewer station 16. It willbe appreciated that the method is similarly applicable to delivering amessage to any group of viewer stations 16, including all viewerstations 16 of IT system 10.

Process block 110 indicates that a viewer station identifiercorresponding to the selected viewer station 16 and a message imageformat representing at least one of dialog message block 100 and flashmessage block 102 are stored in IT system 10. Preferably, the viewerstation identifier is stored within memory 68 of interactive stationcontroller 20 and at central control node 12, and the message imageformats representing both message blocks 100 and 102 are stored inmemory 68. The message image formats stored within memory 68 ofinteractive station controller 20 allow messages to be transmitted tothe selected viewer stations 16 with minimal message image formatinformation.

The message image formats include graphic parameters by which graphicsubsystem 72 of controller 20 can generate: message blocks 100 and 102,the text rendered within message blocks 100 and 102, and transitionalgraphic effects for indicating the opening and closing of a viewermessage. For example, visual transitional effects could include shiftinga message block 100 or 102 into place or constructing it from a ditheredpixel pattern over a brief period. The message image formats can alsoinclude audio transitional effects, such as brief message opening andclosing chimes or tones.

Process block 112 indicates that central control node 12 transmits amessage signal over IT system 10 to the selected viewer station 16. Themessage signal includes a message, a station identifier corresponding tothe selected viewer station 16, and a message image format indicatorrepresenting a dialog message block 100 or a flash message block 102.The message image format indicator includes specific message blockinformation such as size for a dialog message block 100 and verticalscreen position and duration for a flash message block 102. The messagepreferably is a text or written format and additional or alternativelyincludes an audio component (e.g., voice announcement). Moreover, adialog message block 100 can additionally or alternatively include avideo component. For messages directed to multiple selected viewerstations 16, the station identifier in the message signal would includea component common to all the multiple stations 16.

The message signal preferably is transmitted to the selected viewerstation 16 on a channel different from the channels carryingprogramming. For example, the message signal may be transmitted on adedicated IT system communication channel. The benefit of such acommunication channel is that the interactive station controller 20 canreceive the message signal regardless of the programming received byviewers at selected viewer station 16.

Process block 116 indicates that interactive station controller 20 ofselected viewer station 16 polls the communication channel periodicallyfor applicable message signals. Applicable message signals are directedto the selected viewer station 16 and include a station identifiercorresponding to the one stored in station controller 20.

Process block 118 indicates that interactive station controller 20 ofselected viewer station 16 identifies an applicable message signal,accepts it, and in response to it retrieves the corresponding messageimage format.

Process block 120 indicates that interactive station controller 20generates a viewer message on the associated video display screen 78 inaccordance with the message signal and the message image format. Forexample, the appropriate viewer message block is generated by thegraphics subsystem 72.

Process block 122 indicates that the viewer message is removed from thevideo display screen 78. Whenever the viewer message is rendered as adialog message block 100, the viewer message remains on display screen98 until a viewer acknowledges the message according to the instructionsin the close prompt segment 106c (e.g., press action key 91) or theexpiration of a message default period (e.g., 5 minutes). Whenever theviewer message is rendered as a flash message block 102, the message isrendered on display screen 98 for the duration indicated in the messagesignal, which duration may be based upon an integer number ofrepetitions of the message text.

The method of this invention can provide messages over any programmingcarried on IT system 10, including conventional video programming andcomputer-executed applications. With regard to video programming, amessage is rendered over the programming as it continues to bebroadcast.

With regard to application programming, interactive station controller20 interrupts or suspends execution of the programming in response tothe message signal. Interruption or suspension of application executionis analogous to that characteristic of single-threaded multitaskingoperating systems such as Windows v.3.x from Microsoft Corporation. Itwill be appreciated that for some IT system services, such asvideo-on-demand, transmission of a video program could be suspended inthe same manner as is application programming.

Referring to FIG. 1 central control node 12 includes a digital localarea network (LAN) 200 with multiple computer servers 202 for performingvarious interactive system applications or functions referred to above.Servers 202 include, for example, multiple state-of-the artmicroprocessors that operate in parallel and access or control datastorage devices with large data capacities. A digital communicationgateway 204 couples LAN 200 to a wide area network (WAN) (not shown) forobtaining and delivering IT system information.

Servers 202 may include, for example, service and application servers202a and continuous media servers 202b. Service and application servers202a process interactive service requests from subscribers and provideservices and applications associated with operation of IT system 10.Service and application servers 202a may be dedicated to particularapplications such as message transmission, an electronic programmingguide for viewers, network security, monitoring, object storage,financial transactions, data access, and other administration functions.An operator at central control node 12 can control message content andrecipients through a terminal or console associated with the applicableserver 202a, including selectively accessing audio or video components(e.g., from a server 202b).

Continuous media servers 202b provide storage and on-demand or nearon-demand delivery of digitized video information. The digitized videoinformation can include video programming of substantially any durationranging from individual image frames and brief video clips tofull-length motion pictures.

Servers 202 communicate with station controllers 12 via a networkcommunication switch 208, such as an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM)switch. For communication from servers 202 to station controllers 20,network communication switch 208 arranges digital information receivedfrom servers 202 in a standard bidirectional digital communicationformat for transmission over network 14. For communication from stationcontrollers 12 to servers 202, network communication switch 208 convertsdigital information from the standard bidirectional digitalcommunication format for delivery to servers 202.

Digital information from servers 202 is frequency modulated by a digitalmodulator system 210 for transmission over network 14. Digitalinformation that includes video programming is preferably modulated atfrequencies greater than the standard analog television frequency range,which is 50-450 MHz under the NTSC television standard. Digitalinformation that does not include video programming may be modulated atbaseband frequencies that are less than the standard analog televisionfrequency range, greater than the standard analog television frequencyrange, or between television signal frequencies.

A multiplexing system 212 receives and mixes the frequency modulateddigital information from modulator system 210 and standard analog videosignals obtained from a standard analog video feed 214 and delivers anIT composite signal to interactive network 14. Analog video feed may beor include a satellite downlink, a cable receiver, or any locallygenerated programming. A reverse channel receiver system 218 receivesand demodulates digital communications from station controller 20 forprocessing by servers 202.

Having illustrated and described the principles of the present inventionin a preferred embodiment, it should be apparent to those skilled in theart that the embodiment can be modified in arrangement and detailwithout departing from such principles. Accordingly, I claim as myinvention all such embodiments as come within the scope and spirit ofthe following claims and equivalents thereto.

I claim:
 1. In an interactive televideo system having a central controlnode in bidirectional communication with plural viewer stations thatinclude video display sets operably coupled to interactive controllers,the central control node delivering programming over multiple channelsto plural viewer stations and receiving information from the interactivestation controllers, a selected viewer station having a selectedinteractive station controller and receiving selected programming on aselected programming channel and rendering the selected programming on aselected video display set, a method of delivering a message to theselected viewer station, comprising:transmitting a message signal overthe interactive televideo system to the selected viewer station on acommunication channel different from the selected programming channel;and generating a viewer message from the message signal on the selectedvideo display set, the viewer message being generated over the selectedprogramming.
 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising delivering themessage signal to the selected interactive station controller, decodingthe message signal within the selected interactive station controller,and generating the viewer message as a viewer message graphic image. 3.The method of claim 2 in which generating the viewer message graphicimage includes a graphic block within which the viewer message isrendered.
 4. The method of claim 2 further comprising storing a messageimage format within the selected interactive station controller andretrieving the message image format in response to the message signal togenerate the viewer message in accordance with the viewer messagegraphic image.
 5. The method of claim 1 in which the viewer message isgenerated over the selected programming until a viewer at the selectedviewer station acknowledges the viewer message.
 6. The method of claim 1in which the message signal includes a message duration indicator andthe viewer message is generated over the selected programming for apreselected duration corresponding to the message duration indicator. 7.The method of claim 1 in which a selected identifier is associated withthe selected viewer station and the viewer message is generated at theselected viewer station only if the message signal includes the selectedidentifier.
 8. The method of claim 7 in which the selected identifierincludes an identifier component unique to the selected viewer stationrelative to other viewer stations of the interactive televideo system.9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:transmitting the messagesignal over the interactive televideo system to the plural viewerstations that have associated video display sets and receive theprogramming over the multiple channels; and generating the viewermessage from the message signal on the associated video display setsover the programming received over the multiple channels.
 10. The methodof claim 1 in which the selected programming includes acomputer-executed application and generating the viewer message includessuspending execution of the application.
 11. In an interactive televideosystem having a central control node in bidirectional communication withplural viewer stations that include video display sets operably coupledto interactive station controllers, the central control node deliveringprogramming over multiple channels to the plural viewer stations andreceiving information from the interactive station controllers, a methodof delivering a message to a selected viewer station having a selectedvideo display set and a selected interactive station controller,comprising:storing a message image format within the selectedinteractive station controller; transmitting a message signal over theinteractive televideo system to the selected interactive stationcontroller; retrieving the message image format in response to themessage signal; generating a viewer message on the selected videodisplay set in accordance with the message signal and the message imageformat.
 12. The method of claim 11 in which the selected viewer stationreceives selected programming on a selected programming channel andrenders the selected programming on the selected video display set, themethod further comprising generating the viewer message over theselected programming.
 13. The method of claim 11 in which the selectedviewer station receives selected programming on a selected programmingchannel and the message signal is transmitted to the selected viewerstation on a communication channel different from the selectedprogramming channel.
 14. The method of claim 11 in which the viewermessage is generated on the selected video display set until a viewer atthe selected viewer station acknowledges the viewer message.
 15. Themethod of claim 11 in which the message signal includes a messageduration indicator and the viewer message is generated on the selectedvideo display set for a duration corresponding to the message durationindicator.
 16. The method of claim 11 in which a selected identifier isassociated with the selected viewer station and the viewer message isgenerated at the selected viewer station only if the message signalincludes the selected identifier.
 17. The method of claim 16 in whichthe selected identifier includes an identifier component unique to theselected viewer station relative to other viewer stations of theinteractive televideo system.
 18. In an interactive televideo systemhaving a central node in bidirectional communication with plural viewerstations that include video display sets operably coupled to interactivestation controllers, the central control node delivering programmingover multiple channels to the plural viewer stations and receivinginformation from the interactive station controllers, a method ofdelivering a message to plural selected viewer stations having selectedvideo display sets and selected interactive controllers,comprising:storing message image formats within the selected interactivestation controllers; transmitting a message signal over the interactivetelevideo system to the selected interactive station controllers;retrieving the message image formats from within the selectedinteractive controllers in response to the message signal; andgenerating a viewer message on the selected video display sets inaccordance with the message signal and the message image formats. 19.The method of claim 18 in which a selected identifier is associated withthe selected viewer stations and the viewer message is generated at theselected viewer stations only if the message signal includes theselected identifier.
 20. The method of claim 19 in which the selectedidentifier includes first and second identifier components that are,respectively, common and unique to each of the selected viewer stations,and the viewer message is generated at the selected viewer stations onlyif the message signal includes the first identifier component.
 21. In aninteractive televideo system having a central control node inbidirectional communication with plural viewer stations that includevideo display sets operably coupled to interactive station controllers,the central control node delivering programming over multiple channelsto the plural viewer stations and receiving information from theinteractive station controllers, a memory associated with each ofselected interactive station controllers coupled to selected videodisplay sets, comprising:a message image format stored within thememory, viewer messages being rendered on the selected video displaysets in accordance with the message image format.
 22. The memory ofclaim 21 further comprising a station identifier stored in each memoryfor uniquely identifying the viewer stations in which the selectedinteractive station controllers are included.